Problems after 3 or 4 oz

[~BeckyD~]

I know there are a lot of posts about lo's with this problem but can't really get my head around it, and not even really sure what reflux is(if it is that), heres my lo's issue,
has always fed fine, no probs taking bottle and as he has got bigger has no probs bringing wind up, but in last few days he will (with mosts feeds now) take about 3 or 4 of the 6 oz from bottle, then start pushing bottle out and whinging.  We wind him and then try to get him to take some more but he wont take anymore unless we stand up with him and walk around or rock him stood up. I am not sure if it is something like reflux why the standing up would help?? and also he is around 14lb now so too heavy to stand up feeding! Can something like this start after 11 weeks of problem free feeding?  I aways assumed they were problems that occured from newborn? I am really confused!
Any advice would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks

[Noelle]

It sounds like he just might be getting bored.  You could try a faster flow nipple if you haven't already.  Or maybe try feeding him more face out so he can see what's going on around him.  Also, a lot of times babies will go through little phases where they take less than they use to.  Let us know how it goes! 

[~BeckyD~]

ok, so just got back from a car journey where(i know prob shouldnt have but..)fed him in car seat whilst travelling and took the whole 7oz without once fussing? so would be interested to see what people think of reason for that?

[Lucysmom]

Hi - My daughter also started doing the exact same thing at 11 weeks.  I switched to a faster flow nipple/teat and that helped a bit.  But I think the main issue was that I was still feeding her every 3 hours and she just simply was not hungry.  This was the first indication that she was ready to start moving towards the 4 hour EASY.  Is it possible that he is just not hungry?  Don't know what your feeding schedule is but just thought I would throw it out there.....just too bizarre that my daughter did the exact same thing at 11 weeks. 

[albertasweetpea]

Hi there cullybex (hmmmm trying to figure out that nickname...LOL) - my DD did the exact same thing, around 11-12 weeks. I fretted about it for a week or, tried everything from walking around with her, changing formula, having her checked for reflux etc...and finally discovered that she just wanted to eat sitting up!  Sound familiar??
Now I just feed her in her "bouncy chair" and she can see everything and takes her bottles like a champ!
Might want to give it a try, it certainly can't hurt!
P.S. I love your son's name. If Molly was a boy, that was the name we had picked out!! What's his middle name?

[~BeckyD~]

I will try next size teat, but he is already on 4 hrs.He has been taking 5-6 oz every 4 hrs for few weeks now, so don't understand why he wouldn't be hungry after 4 hrs now, although it does seem as though after the first few oz he is not hungry anymore.  It it likely that he could want to change to being fed less at a time, but more often, when before he has always gone 4 hours? Thanks for posts , but still confused! :?

[~BeckyD~]

Michelle
posted same time as you, thats sounds like good idea, will try with next feed and let you know. Nickname(Cullybex) is my husbands nickname(Cully)and my nickname(Bex) for Becky.Jacks middle name is Christopher and I love his name too thank you very much! Decided to choose simple boys name as dd has long (but very pretty)name!

[mattandcindy]

I think it definitely sounds like your lo just wants to eat sitting up.
If he isn't arching back or crying or spitting up more or spitting the nipple out just to be ravenous for it again, then I wouldn't worry too much about reflux.
Hope the sitting up helps!

[~BeckyD~]

ok so heres what happened with evening feed..
put him in swing to feed on Michelles advice, he took 3 oz fine, then started crying and pushed teat out. I picked him up and winded him, the whole time he cried. Then once winded he went back into swing and reluctantly took another oz but making grunts like still had wind so took him back out and tried to wind again but after 5 mins nothing(still crying), so gave gripe water, which didnt make much difference I dont think. He then finished feed with dh stood up rocking. He then fell straight to sleep for 20 mins. This is generally the same as usual for evening feed, which is always the worst.
So it seems the sitting up while feeding didnt change anything, and dont think it is the teat cos flowing quite well and seemed to be spitting lots back out while feeding.Help! :? :? 

[Mariek]

Bex

Have you tried giving him Infacol? That worked a treat for Grace (better than gripe water ever did). You have to give it to them before the feed but she used to burp like a trooper when she had it.

love

[~BeckyD~]

yes, he used to have it when he was a few weeks old cos never really brought wind up very well but we stopped about a month ago and has only recently started being like this. Maybe I should start again for evening feed.

[Mariek]

It's got to be worth a try then. Can't hurt anyway.

love

[albertasweetpea]

You might want to keep trying the sitting up feeding as well until he gets the hang of it. What have you got to lose right?

Marie - love your new avatar - what a beauty!

[fros]

Hi there,
My bubs was and still is exactly like your LO. It is sooo frustrating. No professional would listen because he puts on weight. etc.
Unfortunately in my case I've learned to live with it. Some days are great and others are terrible. He is now 6 months and takes around 20-23 oz.
The only advice I can give you is don't force it down. I think I created more problems by doing this and I wish I didn't as he might have been a better feeder by now.
I also don't feed him 4 hourly anymore as he won't take it. I feed him his bottles at 7:15, 12:00. 4:00 and 7:30. He is also on solids now and generally likes them but if he doesn't want it I don't force it anymore. I take it away staight away as I don't want to create problems with his solids as well.
Good Luck and I hope bubs improves.
While I'm here does anyone now if 20-23 oz is enough for my bubs at this age?

Faye

[~BeckyD~]

well, this is what I was wondering because I have always heard the '2.5-2.7 oz times their weight a day'.  That would mean Jack should be taking around 34 oz a day. I think this is where our problem is...because he sleeps thru night I have been trying to squeeze this all in between 7am-9pm, and it was too much for him(thats what I have put this down to). So now he takes around 26-30 oz a day and (hopefully) still doesnt want one during the night.
I was also confused because if you go by the guidelines on back of formula box(we use Aptamil First) they generally suggest only 30 oz for his weight, but I think other formulas have different guidlines, so now I think just go with what baby wants...if they were breastfed you wouldnt be measuring the oz.
Thanks to all who helped with this post, and hope this helps you too!
Bex

[Nicoles Mum]

Bex

I also use Aptmil First and was concerned by the recommended amounts as Nicole was only taking about 20oz a day rather than the recommended 30 for her age.  However, in the last week she's caught up and now drains 5-6oz bottles at each feed.  She also used to fuss after 3oz but has grown out of this now and is feeding much better.   I put this down to sorting out her daytime naps as she's less tired now she's getting regular sleeps during the day.  As a result I think she;s more relaxed for the feed.   

Sarah

[PaulaP]

I too have been having the same problems with Thomas' feeding.  He is 11 weeks old, weighs just over 14lbs and also fights constantly when he has his bottles.

He sleeps through the night from 8pm - 8am, and when the time comes for his first feed - he cries so much that you cannot get the teat in his mouth.  After constantly shhhhing him and rocking him you can eventually get the teat in his mouth.  After about 3-4oz, he starts playing about and will knock the bottle out of my hands and starts screaming.  When you wind him, he will bring up a lot of wind and then you cannot get the bottle back in his mouth. 

Thomas takes his bottles warm (he refuses to drink them at room temperature).  A lot of the time I have to re-warm the bottle for him to take it - some times this works and some times it does not. 

I find it very distressing, as I know that he has gone 12 hours in the night and then will only take 4oz out of a 6oz bottle.  My HV says there is nothing really to worry about as he is constantly putting on weight - between 6oz - 8oz every week.

When we try to sit him up in our arms to drink it is even worse.  I am really confused and do not know what to do.

Any help and suggestions would be great.

Thanks
Paula

[nate's mom rachel]

My little man was having the same problem, it seemed right from birth when I was nursing him and through bottle feeding as well.  He would be SO frantic for the bottle, chug the first few ounces, and then pull off and cry.  I could tell he was still hungry but something was wrong.  I heard everything from "he needs to burp" to "he needs to spit up", had him on Zantac as well as soy formula for a while.  But I really didn't think he had reflux because other than at feeding times he was a very happy baby!  I had been using the wide nipples that are supposed to be more like the breast.  One night I was so desperate I tried a bottle I had in the closet that had the old fashioned skinny nipple.  And he fed a little better.  So I switched to the regular nipples (I use Playtex ventair bottles) in the Stage 2 flow and gradually (over the next few days and weeks) he stopped having feeding problems.  I dropped the Zantac and returned to regular formula.  He now eats 7 or 8 ounces in about 5 minutes, and does this 4 times a day, sleeping through the night (with a paci and swaddle, but that is another topic altogether!).  Now you might have already tried every nipple out there, but for me, using the regular nipples completely solved the problem.  My little guy just doesn't want to work that hard for his milk, which is probable why nursing didn't work for me either.  I guess I have a lazy little sucker  :wink:   Hope this helps someone.

P.S.  And for some crazy reason, he likes to eat laying flat, like on the couch or the carpet.